Dengue in Africa (Update 2)
03 Jan 2018
The World Health Organisation reports continuing transmission of dengue in countries across Africa. The latest WHO update of 29 December 2017 
reports the following:
Burkina Faso: 14 445 cases (including 29 deaths) have been reported between 1 January and 10 december 2017. The outbreak has been declining since the end of october 2017. Most (62%) cases have been reported in the central region, notably in the capital Ouagadougou.
Cote d'Ivoire: 1 421 cases (including 2 deaths) have been reported between 22 April and 16 December 2017. The outbreak is centred on the capital Abidjan and has been declining since the end of August 2017.
Mali: 429 cases (no deaths) were reported between 1 August and 10 december 2017. All of these were in the capital, Bamako and the Kati health district northwest of Bamako. The outbreak is declining with no suspected cases reported since 9 December 2017.
Mauritania: between 30 November and 13 December, 37 cases of dengue were reported, Of these cases, 3 were dengue haemorrhagic fever.
Senegal: between 28 September and 17 December 2017, 783 (no deaths) were reported.Laboratory confirmed cases were reported from the Louga region (128), Fatick (2), Mbour (1), and Dakar (5).
Seychelles: between 20 July and 28 November 2017 4233 cases (no deaths) were reported from all regions of the three main islands (Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue).
Sudan: between 2 October and 8 December 2017, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported 137 suspected dengue cases (including 3 deaths). These were were reported from Khartoum, Kassala, East and West Darfur, South Kordofan, Red Sea, River Nile and Gezira States. Most cases (118) were reported from Kassala State.
Advice for Travellers
The best way to avoid infection is to prevent mosquito bites. As the transmitting mosquitoes bite from dawn until dusk, long clothing should be worn and repellents should be used all day.
See also information about Insect Bite Avoidance.
Medical attention must be sought for any feverish illness experienced whilst travelling or on your return home.
There is no vaccine against dengue fever for travellers.
A vaccine for use in people living in dengue affected countries aged between 9 – 45 years has been licenced in Costa Rica, Brazil, Mexico and the Phillippines. However, use of the vaccine is now under review due to safety concerns (December 2017).
For further information see Dengue Fever.